Building construction



Feb. 2, 1937. w. D. MANN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2s, 1931 5x5/ll; A .l

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE 29 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to building construction.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce an improved fire-proof construction for ceilings.

Another object is to provide a form of ceiling construction which can be manufactured in the form of panels and attached to the steel structure of a modern skyscraper type of building in a simple, inexpensive and expeditious manner.

Another object is to provide an improved ceiling construction, sound-proof in character.

Another object is to provide ceiling panels which may be manufactured in quantities and installed in a building directly on the steel construction thereof.

A still further object is to provide a method of attaching these panels to the steel beams of the building which will fire-proof the beams and prevent any warping arising from heat.

Still another object is to provide a ceiling panel of this type in which any desired nishing effect may be obtained, thereby avoiding a great amount of labor in plastering or interior decorating.

There are other objects of my invention which, together with the foregoing, will be described in the detailed specification that is to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

Referring now to the drawing:

Fig. l is a sectional elevation through a oor and ceiling of a building showing my improved ceiling construction; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan of the ceiling construction of Fig. l.

The modern type of building construction, and particularly oice building construction, requires the ceilings to be lathed and plastered in order to present a desirable appearance. This procedure is rather expensive, requires considerable time and labor and also necessitates considerable cost of maintenance in redecorating and repairing. The trend in modern building construction is to eliminate and reduce the cost as much as possible.

In my invention I employ' a panel of suitable width to span from beam to beam. in the steel construction of a building. The panel itself is constructed of tile or other suitable material with a light, sound-proof core, and having a nished outer surface. These panels are attached to the steel beams in a simple and expeditious manner and form the ceiling. This entirely eliminates any interior nish, reducing the first cost of the ceiling material and doing away with the labor of plasterers and painters.

In the drawing, like reference characters apply to similar parts throughout.

The reference characters l denote structural 5 beams lying between floors of a building. These beams are of any usual or well known type, usually of I-shape and latticed.

My improved ceiling panel 2 comprises a flat portion 3 with upstanding side portions 4, the 10 outer surface 5 of which is concave in shape, with a rounded edge portion 6. This portion of the ceiling panel 2 is composed of cement or any suitable material, and is cast in this shape and has bolts 1 embedded in the upstanding ilanges 4. 15 The interior or core 8 of the panel is composed of a light porous material which is preferably though not necessarily sound-deadening. This forms the complete ceiling block by union withA the outer cement portion 3. The outer surface of the flat portion 3 of the ceiling panel is usually finished by glazing or in any suitable manner and may have a panel 9 of cellotex cast or embedded therein for decorating and sound-deadening purposes. This acoustical panel may be omitted, 2 however, and the face 3 of the ceiling block 2 colored or given a plain white finish to simulate plaster, in any desired manner.

'Ihe width of the ceiling block 2 from. the extensions on the upstanding ang'e portions 4 is 30 such as just to go between the beams l of a ceiling with the rounded edge portions 6 in the middle of a steel beam. The ceiling block 2, on account of its core construction, is light, strong and sound-proof. 35

The ceiling is formed by placing the ceiling blocks 2 between the beams, passing a strap I0 through the lattice work of the structural beams l and uniting it by nuts I l to the bolts l of adjacent ceiling blocks. The bolts 'l may be embedded 40 in the ceiling block at the corners, or better at suitable distances along the edge to provide for proper rigidity.

It will be seen that adjacent ceiling blocks have their rounded edges 6 close together form- 45 ing a circular shaped trough between the blocks and enclosing the lower end of the beams. This trough is preferably filled with a cement which serves to unite adjacent ceiling blocks together and firmly attach them to the structural beams. A further result of this cementing is that the lower ends of the beams are covered so as to pre- Vent heat arising from a fire in the room, from causing buckling or distortion. The small depressions caused by the rounded edges of adjacent ceiling blocks coming together may be filled with plaster or preferably may be left in the original state to give a very pleasing paneled effect.

It will be seen that my improved ceiling block may be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively cheap price. Because of its light, sound-proof core, it is relatively easy to handle and not as subject to breakage as hollow tile. Furthermore, when the block is used in the ceiling, it is a relatively simplev matter to attach adjacent blocks together to form a complete ceiling, requiring more or less unskilled labor, and

because of its simplicity, the ceiling may be constructed in a relatively short time.

The ceiling, when formed, is a complete unit,

firmly attached to the steel structure of the building, absolutely sound-proof and highly pleasing in appearance. Furthermore, by the use of sound insulating panels any desired color effect may be obtained, or by the treatment of the tile on its lower or finished surface, any decorating effect desired may be secured. In addition, after installation, because it is permanently attached to the steel structure, there is no danger of breakageor cracking, and the maintenance from the standpoint of redecoration is relatively nil for the reason that it may be washed because of the nished or glazed condition of its under surface and present the same appearance as when it was originally installed.

The method of uniting adjacent blocks together, by which the lower end of the steel beam iscompletely protected from re, is highly advantageous as many building codes require that these beams be iire-proofed. This ordinarily introduced an additional cost or expense, which is entirely eliminated by my improved construction.

While I have described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am aware that many changes, modifications and deviations may be made, and I desire to protect by Letters Patent all such changes, modifications and deviations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ceiling block having a at rectangular shaped panel with upstanding ends, the outside portion of the panel having a completely nished surface, holding members anchored in said ends and having projecting portions adapted to receive asecuring plate, and means for clamp-ing Vsaid plate to the holding members.

2. A ceiling block comprising a tile panel with upstanding flanged portions at the ends, sound proofing material interposed between the anged portions `and holding members anchored in said flanged portions.

3. A ceiling block having a iiat rectangular shaped tile portion with Vupstanding ends the outer portion of the tile being iinished,@and a core of sound proofing material iirmly united with the tile portion.

4. A ceiling block comprising a flat rectangular shaped tile portion and a core of sound-proofing material applied to one face, grooves formed in the edges of the block for receiving a beam, and means for securing the block to the beam.

5. A ceiling block having a rectangular shaped flat tile portion, upstanding tile portions spaced united with one face of the core, the veneer extending outwardly beyond the Yedge of the core and upwardly along two sides thereof to hold the core firmly in place, and a concave groove extending along each of said upward extensions.

9. A building ceiling comprising a plurality of composite ceiling blocks having a sound-proof core material and a veneer along their lower surfaces, concave grooves along the sides of each block adapted to form a circular space around the steel beams of the ceiling, and holding members in each block forhanging adjacent blocks to the steel beams.

10. A building ceiling comprising a plurality of composite ceiling blocks having a sound-proof core material and a veneer along their lower surfaces, concave grooves along the sides of each block adapted to form a circular space around the steel beams of the ceiling, and cement in said space uniting the adjacent blocks as well as the steel beams.

1l. A composite building block having a soundproof core, a tile veneer along one side thereof and a sound-proof panel held in place in said veneer.

12. A composite ceiling block having a core oi. soundproong material and a nished tile surface along one side of the block and a decorating panel imbedded in said tile. v

13. A composite ceiling block having a core of sound-proongmaterial and a nished tile surface along one side of the block, and means embedded in the block for securing same in place in the ceiling.

14. A ceiling block having an outer finished face tile base provided with upstanding ends.Y and a panel of sound-proofing material inset into the tile base.

15. A ceiling block having a base portion provided on one side with a nished face and on the other with a recessed portion, and a panel of sound-proofing material inserted within the recessed portion. K

16. A composite ceiling block comprising a tile base portion having a finished outer surface, grooves formed along the edges of said base, and a panel of sound-proofing material applied to the side of the base opposite its nished side.

17. A building block having a body portion provided with a sound-proof core and also provided with a sound-proof panel on one side of the body portion.

18. A building block having a body portion provided with a sound-proof core and also provided on one side of the body portion with a soundproof panel having a surface finished to make a nal wall surface.

19. A ceiling block having a body portion provided with a sound-proof core and also provided with a panel on one side of the body portion, said panel being finished to form a ceiling surface, and means whereby the body portion may be attached to a supporting structurev to permit the block to be supported with said panel lowermost.

20. A ceiling block having a body portion provided with a surface adapted to form a finished ceiling surface, said block having its opposite ends provided with means for engaging and covering the lower flange of a supporting I-beam structure while the web thereof extends above the block to permit the block to be suspended from the supporting structure with said surface underneath, and also to permit the block to cover the underside of said supporting structure.

21. A ceiling block having a body portion provided with a surface adapted to form a finished ceiling surface, said block having its ends provided with recesses adapted to receive the lower ange of a supporting I-beam structure while the web thereof extends above the block to permit the block to be suspended from said structure with said ceiling surface underneath, and also to permit the block to cover the under side of said supporting structure.

22. A ceiling block having a body portion provided with a surface adapted to form a finished ceiling surface, said block having its ends provided with recesses adapted to receive a supporting structure to permit the block to be supported by said structure with said ceiling'surface underneath, and also to permit the block to cover the under side of said supporting structure, and

means for extending a connection across a supporting structure and tying the upper end portions of adjacent blocks together.

23. A ceiling block having a body portion provided with a surface adapted to form a finished ceiling surface, said block having its ends provided with recesses adapted to receive a supporting structure to permit the block to be supported by said structure with said ceiling surface underneath, and also to permit the block to cover the under side of said supporting structure, and means including a tie strap for tying the upper ends of adjacent blocks together and to the supporting structure.

24. A ceiling block having a body portion provided with a surface adapted to form a finished ceiling surface, said block having its ends provided with recesses adapted to receive a supporting structure to permit the block to be supported by said structure with saidv ceiling surface underneath, and also to permit the block to cover the under side of said supporting structure, and means for tying the upper ends of adjacent blocks together and to the supporting structure, said means comprising straps connected by bolts toV said blocks and extended across the supporting structure.

25. A ceiling comprising a supporting structure, and below the same a ceiling block and means whereby the same may be supported from the supporting structure above the block comprising a recess in the block adapted to receive at least a part of the overhead supporting structure, and means for engaging the supporting structure and block to support the latter and suspend it from the overhead structure.

26. A ceiling comprising a supporting structure, and below the same a ceiling block having its underneath surface adapted to substantially contact with the underneath surfaces of adjacent ceiling blocks and provided with means whereby the portion of the block above its lower surface may be suspended from the supporting structure above the block.

27. A ceiling comprising an overhead supporting structure, and below the same a ceiling block having its underneath surface extended so as to substantially contact with the underneath surfaces of adjacent ceiling blocks and having a recess above its underneath surface to accommodate part at least of the overhead supporting structure, and means independent of the supporting structure for tying adjacent blocks together.

28. A ceiling comprising a supporting structure, a ceiling block suspended therefrom and having its underneath surface adapted to substantially contact with the underneath surfaces of adjacent ceiling blocks and provided with means whereby the portion of the block above its lower surface may be suspended from the supporting structure above it, and cementing material in said recess to cement said block to said supporting structure.

29. A ceiling comprising a supporting structure, a ceiling block suspended therefrom and having its underneath surface extended so as to substantially contact with the underneath surfaces of adjacent ceiling blocks and having a recess above its underneath surface to accommodate only the lower part of the overhead supporting structure, means for tying adjacent blocks together and to said supporting structure, and cementing material in said recess.

WILLIAM D. MANN.

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